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Gary McAllister insists Jon Flanagan deserves the chance to relaunch his career as Rangers close in on a controversial deal for the disgraced defender.

The former Liverpool full back pleaded guilty to assaulting girlfriend Rachael Wall earlier this year and was sentenced to 40 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month community order.

Light Blues assistant boss McAllister admitted the 25-year-old’s behaviour was unacceptable but doesn’t believe it should mean the end of his career and he is set to become Steven Gerrard’s seventh signing.

Rangers are putting Flanagan, available on a free, through a rigorous medical after two knee operations on an injury four years ago after he had burst onto the scene at Anfield and was capped by England.

Jon Flanagan leaving Liverpool Magistrate's court after being sentenced over an assault on his girlfriend (Image: Daily Mirror)

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Liverpool condemned his actions after he was sentenced in January but helped with his rehabilitation rather than sack him, although he spent the second half of the season on loan at Bolton.

Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard was a huge admirer of Flanagan when they played together at the Reds but Rangers fans are split on the potential signing due to his past.

The 25-year-old is due to join the club in their pre-season training camp in Spain and McAllister said: “I feel Jon deserves a second chance.

“It was unacceptable, most definitely. I have a little bit of an in because I worked at Liverpool but it was unacceptable and a really poor decision that he made in that episode.

“But, he deserves a second chance. He showed remorse, he put his hand up and has taken his punishment. He wants to get on with his life and his football life.

“The club is in talks and we are in the medical stages at the moment and that is going to be in-depth because Jon Flanagan has had problems in the past with parts of his body.

Flanagan is undergoing a thorough medical (Image: John Powell)

“It is deep and thorough and that is where it’s at. He has been unlucky with injuries. It looked as though he was going to go and jump ahead and flourish but he has been hampered by injuries, hence the medical.”

Gerrard compared Flanagan to Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher when he first broke through. Speaking after a Merseyside derby five years ago, he said: “He reminds me of Carragher in a lot of ways.

“I don’t think you would judge Jon in terms of ability or skill, but he is all about heart, desire, determination and fighting for the cause.”

And McAllister backed that up. He said: “I haven’t worked with him directly but I know him from my time at Liverpool.

“He is a great lad, very approachable man, extremely hard working. He’s tough, unassuming, he is an old school full-back that can play either side, he can play two in a back four, three of a back five, a back three, so he is versatile.

“But the big thing is that we know him, we know his character and we think he can deal with playing in front of a 50,000 crowd.

“The expectation here is exactly the same as Liverpool. Dealing with those expectations and the crowd is something we know he can cope with.”

But McAllister insists it won’t be the end for current right back James Tavernier if they get the deal over the line.

The Gers No. 2 said: “In this period where Rangers have taken a bit of criticism, James has been one of the standout players and he is going to be key for us.”

McAllister admitted other signings could be on the horizon. He said: “It is ongoing, it always is and it will be ongoing right throughout the season.

“In transfer windows, out of transfer windows, if we can get people that will make us better then we have got to be interested."